KMC wards to rise from 144 to 209, HMC 50 to 68; Bengal bill on Aug 12
Synopsis
West Bengal is redrawing its two biggest urban electoral maps in a single legislative sitting. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is fast-tracking an Amendment Bill on 12 August to add 65 wards to KMC and 18 to HMC — all before year-end civic polls — even as the opposition alleges the government skipped mandatory draft-list procedures.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced the Amendment Bill on 6 August to reorganise wards in KMC and HMC .
KMC wards will increase from 144 to 209 ; HMC wards from 50 to 68 .
The Bill will be tabled at a special one-day Assembly session on 12 August .
Both corporations are scheduled to hold civic polls by the end of 2025 , with elected boards to be installed by December .
Opposition parties allege the government bypassed the mandatory publication of a draft ward list and failed to consult all parties before reorganisation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday, 6 August announced that an Amendment Bill seeking to expand the number of wards in both the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) will be tabled at a special one-day session of the state Assembly on 12 August. The proposed legislation, if passed, would increase KMC wards from 144 to 209 and HMC wards from 50 to 68.
Key Provisions of the Amendment Bill
Under the proposed Bill, KMC will see its ward count jump by 65 — from 144 to 209 — while HMC will gain 18 additional wards, moving from 50 to 68. The state government has called a single-day special Assembly session on 12 August to table and pass the legislation, signalling its intent to fast-track the process ahead of scheduled civic polls.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing media persons on Thursday evening, Chief Minister Adhikari stated that the move fulfils a commitment he made shortly after assuming office earlier this year. 'I also promised to hand over the administrative power of these two municipal corporations to the newly elected boards by December this year. Precisely to achieve that, the state government now intends to complete the legal process at the earliest. That is why the Amendment Bill will be tabled at a single-day special session of the Assembly on August 12,' he said.
Civic Polls Timeline
Both KMC and HMC are due to hold civic elections by the end of 2025, making the ward reorganisation a prerequisite for delimiting new constituencies. Adhikari has pledged that elected boards will be installed in both corporations by December, a timeline that the special session is designed to support.
Opposition Criticism and Procedural Concerns
The ward reorganisation has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who argue that democratic norms require the publication of a draft list of wards before any reorganisation is carried out. Critics allege that this standard procedure was bypassed in the case of both KMC and HMC, and that the state government proceeded without consulting all political stakeholders. The opposition has characterised the move as unilateral and procedurally irregular.
What Happens Next
With the special session scheduled for 12 August, the bill is expected to clear the Assembly swiftly given the ruling party's majority. Legal challenges from opposition parties, however, cannot be ruled out if the procedural objections around draft ward lists remain unaddressed. The reorganisation will directly shape the electoral map for two of West Bengal's most politically significant urban bodies.
Point of View
Public feedback, and multi-party consultation; the opposition's allegation that these steps were skipped deserves scrutiny, not dismissal. Rushing the bill ahead of year-end civic polls also creates an optics problem: ward boundary changes made by the ruling party immediately before elections it intends to contest will inevitably invite charges of gerrymandering, regardless of intent. The real test is whether the final ward map holds up to independent electoral scrutiny.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the West Bengal Amendment Bill on KMC and HMC propose?
The Bill proposes increasing the number of wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation from 144 to 209 and in the Howrah Municipal Corporation from 50 to 68. It is scheduled to be tabled at a special one-day Assembly session on 12 August 2025.
Why is West Bengal holding a special Assembly session on 12 August?
The state government called the special session to fast-track the Amendment Bill reorganising KMC and HMC wards ahead of scheduled civic polls by year-end. Chief Minister Adhikari said completing the legal process quickly is necessary to install elected boards in both corporations by December.
What is the opposition's objection to the ward reorganisation?
Opposition parties allege that democratic practice requires the government to publish a draft list of wards before reorganisation and consult all political parties — a procedure they claim was not followed for either KMC or HMC. They have accused the state government of implementing the changes unilaterally.
When are civic polls expected for KMC and HMC?
Both the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the Howrah Municipal Corporation are scheduled to hold civic elections by the end of 2025. Chief Minister Adhikari has committed to handing over administrative power to newly elected boards by December.
Who is Suvendu Adhikari and why is he driving this bill?
Suvendu Adhikari is the Chief Minister of West Bengal. He stated that reorganising KMC and HMC wards was a commitment he made shortly after taking charge earlier this year, and the Amendment Bill is the legislative step to fulfil that promise before the upcoming civic polls.
